Richardt, Heinke taste Euro success
21 May 2012
GARETH DUNCAN looks at the Saffas who impressed in the leagues around the world over the weekend.
The European Cup final clash saw five Saffas in action. Defending champions Leinster had hooker Richardt Strauss and loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe in their match-day squad, while Ulster started fullback Stefan Terblanche, scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar, lock and captain Johann Muller and No 8 Pedrie Wannenburg.
And it was Strauss and Van der Merwe’s side that powered to a 42-14 triumph (the biggest winning margin in a European Cup final), securing back-to-back continental titles (their third in four seasons).
Loosehead prop Heinke van der Merwe scores a try for Leinster
The front-rowers were influential up front with powerful performances. Strauss was a key feature in Leinster’s run-on side and made a big all-round contribution, especially as a primary ball carrier. The Telegraph’s Paul Ackford gave the former Cheetahs player’s performance an 8/10 rating, saying: ‘He’s one of the game’s fleet-footed hookers. Impressively mobile and good on the ball’. Van der Merwe made an impact off the bench as he formed part of a strong forwards showing in the second half and crossed the chalk in one of his team’s five tries.
Ulster were still in the contest at the break, trailing 14-6. Pienaar kicked the points in the first half via two penalties. However, they buckled against Leinster’s onslaught in the second half. Pienaar added another penalty, but struggled behind a dominated pack and his tactical kicking game was surprisingly below average. Muller couldn’t inspire his team up front, while Terblanche was good under the high ball but he faded with Ulster’s implosion. The former Sharks veteran also received a late yellow card for a dangerous tackle.
Ulster scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar kicked three penalties but struggled behind a dominated pack
Wannenburg had a disappointing last game for his club (he departs to French outfit Castres next season). Ackford gave him a 4/10 rating, saying: ‘Sadly, a disaster. A ludicrous one-handed pass which went nowhere and a series of missed tackles.’
This was Strauss’s second European Cup title, while Van der Merwe becomes the 10th Saffa to lift the prestigious trophy.
In the European Cup Challenge final, tighthead prop Eugene van Staden’s Biarritz edged captain and No 8 Joe van Niekerk’s Toulon 21-18. Van Staden had a solid start for the victors before being taken off early in the second half, while Van Niekerk was a prominent feature in the lineouts but failed to have a strong influence on attack or defence.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN CUP FINAL
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7 Comments
21 May 2012, 11:03 am
Never mind loose forwards, SA must have the best array of loosehead props in the world.
Steenkamp
Mtawarira
Greyling
Oosthuyzen
Kitshoff
Heinke Van Der Merwe
Surely it would serve Bok rugby for one or two of these players to make the shift to tighthead.
Imagine Kitshoff, Oosthuyzen or Heinke Van Der Merwe at 3 for the Boks?
They are certainly young enough to make the shift and it can only benefit the Bok pack.
21 May 2012, 11:05 am
Pienaar has no real BMT.
21 May 2012, 11:43 am
@puff(puff)-1:
Wouldn’t mind seeing Heinke make the change… and I presume he has played a little there for Leinster seeing as Cian Healy was unlikely to go there if Heinke was brought on for Ross. Not sure about this though…
It’s sad because I think Heinke could’ve been a stand-out, but unfortunately played for a rubbish team that gave him a terrible platform to perform from & rumor has it that he has no intention of returning to SA anytime soon… or if he did he would only go to the Lions.
Seeing as the Lions are being relegated, I presume he will finish out his career overseas. A real shame.
21 May 2012, 12:09 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-3:
Agreed:
1. Mtawarira, Greyling, Kitshoff
2. Du Plessis, Strauss, Ralepelle
3. Oosthuyzen, Van Der Merwe, Malherbe
The potential for dominant Bok front row is right there!
21 May 2012, 15:05 pm
The Boks tried Heinke at tight-head on the infamous failed year end tour acouple of years back and he was a failure. Maybe now with a bit more NH experience he could convert? He is widely regarded by front row experts as technically the best loosehead oprion we have!
Bring him back!!!!
21 May 2012, 22:16 pm
@stand-off(Braders)-5: Heinke is a brilliant scrummager, but his general play doesn’t quite match the rest of the props we often consider for the Boks.
Beast and Oosthuyzen are both probably inferior to Heinke at scrum time, but their work rate in other facets of the game is renders them superior players.
I reckon Kitshoff will grow into one helluva prop. Good scrummager and good work rate in general play. I also actually like the look of Malherbe. Both are really young and could grow into a really potent pair.
22 May 2012, 09:14 am
@puff(puff)-1: I guess you never heard the debate the last few years about Coenie’s shifting to tighthead (this being the plan from his debut), and it will happen next year with WP’s departure to the wet countries up north.
It was Os’ idea from the start to prepare him for tighthead, but still having him as a mobile prop, by giving him a few years in the no1 jersey. The reasoning was that if you throw a kid in too early at tighthead, he becomes useless in the loose, but guys like WP Nel kinda foiled that theory.
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